What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a third-party attestation that formally demonstrates a conformity assessment body’s (CAB’s) competence to perform specific conformity assessment tasks. It serves as a critical endorsement of a CAB’s capability, credibility, independence, and integrity in executing these tasks. Accreditation plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of goods and services across various sectors, including fishing, forestry, construction, and communications, enhancing the reliability of the supply chain.

While the terms “accreditation” and “certification” are often used interchangeably in everyday language, they hold distinct meanings within the conformity assessment industry. Certification refers to the third-party attestation related to products, processes, systems, or persons, as defined by ISO/IEC 17000:2004.

More businesses are choosing to pursue accreditation, recognizing its value in enhancing internal efficiency and providing an opportunity to demonstrate adherence to best practices.

Why Accreditation?

In today’s global market, the demand for reliable and safe products and services makes accreditation essential. Accreditation from a globally respected organization like EU-AB offers immediate credibility and builds confidence in your services or products. It is one of the most effective ways to demonstrate the highest standards of quality and value.

Choosing the right accrediting body to assess and certify your professional services is critical, as it directly impacts your success. Accreditation is particularly important for professions that affect public safety and welfare, as it ensures compliance with the highest industry standards.

EU-AB is ready to partner with you, guiding you through the process of achieving and maintaining accreditation to support your ongoing success.

The Accreditation Process

EU-AB accredits organizations by evaluating their technical competence and assessing their quality management systems against recognized industry standards. The accreditation process begins when a customer submits an application, along with the applicable fees and required documentation, based on the specific EU-AB criteria.

An EU-AB officer collaborates with the customer throughout the entire accreditation process. This partnership starts with a thorough review of the submitted data and the requested scope of accreditation.

Once the data has been reviewed and confirmed to meet the applicable criteria, EU-AB assembles an assessment team. This team consists of experts in quality systems, technical aspects, and relevant subject matter, tailored to the scope of accreditation being requested. The team then conducts an on-site assessment and prepares a comprehensive assessment report.

After the customer fulfills all EU-AB accreditation requirements and demonstrates their technical competence, they are awarded an accreditation certificate.